Commercial 
                    Fishing for Tilefishes in LA Waters to Close
                    Until January 1, 2006
                    Posted: 
                    11/18/05 
                    
                  The commercial 
                    fishery for tilefishes in Louisiana waters will close at 12:01 
                    a.m. on Nov. 21, 2005, and will remain closed until the opening 
                    of the spring commercial tilefish season on Jan. 1, 2006. 
                    The tilefish assemblage includes tilefish, goldface tilefish, 
                    blackline tilefish, anchor tilefish and blueline tilefish. 
                    
                  The decision 
                    was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 
                    (LDWF) Secretary Dwight Landreneau, following notification 
                    by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that the federal 
                    waters of the Gulf of Mexico is closed for the commercial 
                    harvest of tilefishes from 12:01 a.m. Nov. 21 until 12:01 
                    a.m. Jan. 1, 2006, and per a request from NMFS. 
                  Regulations 
                    for the tilefish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico include a commercial 
                    quota. Based on reported landings, NMFS is closing the tilefish 
                    commercial fishery in federal waters off Louisiana, and requested 
                    that LDWF enact compatible rules. 
                  After 
                    the closure, all commercial harvest, possession, purchase, 
                    barter, trade, sale or attempts to purchase, barter, trade 
                    or sell tilefishes is prohibited until 12:01 a.m., Jan. 1, 
                    2006, the date set for the opening of the 2006 season. The 
                    prohibition on sale or purchase of tilefishes during the closure 
                    does not apply to those that were harvested,
                    landed ashore, and sold prior to the effective date of the 
                    closure and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor 
                    provided appropriate records in accordance with R.S. 56:306.5 
                    and 56:306.6 are properly maintained.
                   
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